Circuit controller



March 29, 1932.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed July 26 1926 32 4,

.2 Sheets-Sheet l His Attorhgg Mmh 29, 1932. Q HALL $1,851,246

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER CHA GE 54 H N Inventor:

a Chester LHaH 52 k 2Q; T l/ 2H 7 His A'btorngs Patented Mar. 29, 1932 PATENT; OFFICE CHESTER IIH ALL, OE FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB T0 GENEAL ELECTRIC COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Application filed Iuly 28,

My invention relates to circuit controllers. More particularly, it relates to circuit controllers of the type which are especially ad-iipted for use in connection with trafiic signa s.

In regulating trailic along a thoroughfare, across which extend other avenues of trafi'ic or crossroads, the time intervals during which traific is allowed to proceed along the main thoroughfare and along the crossroads are not necessarily the same. In the case where a main road is intersected by a cross road sometimes the ratio is 1 1, that is, if the period or cycle between the instant that the trafiic begins to move. forward on a main thoroughfare, is stopped, and reaches the instant when it is moved forward again is considered as unity The ratio of 1: 1 may, of course, be considered as :50. Sometimes the ratio of time during which the traffic in the main thoroughfare is allowed to go for- I ward is of the total interval.

Inasmuch as the volume of traiiic in both the main thoroughfare and the crossroads varies during the day, it is common practice to vary the ratio of the go interval in the main thoroughfare to the go interval in the cross-' roads. The signals for controlling the traffie may be light signals. For example, a red signal may be considered as a signal to stop, while green may be consideredas a signal to go. Sometimes it is desirable to operate a third signal to indicate that a change in signal is about to begiven either to stop or to go. As a change indicating signal amber mav be used.

.The signals to stop or go may be steady signals, or they may be flashing signals. The control of the signals may be manual, orthey may be placed under the control of acircuit controlling device. I i

Among the objects of myinvention are:

To provide a machine which will serve as a means for controlling traific signals in cycles;

To provide a machine which will control the go signals, the stop signals, and the change signals in cycles; f

To provide means for varying the ratio between the traffic go time interval along the 1926. Serial No. 124,914.

main thoroughfare with respect to the trafic go timeinterval along the crossroads; and

to change the ratio of the tratiic go and trailic stop time intervals during a cycle on either the main thoroughfore or crossroads, or both;

To provide means for varying the length of the unit interval or cycle which includes the traflic go, the traflic stop, and the traflic change signals of the main thoroughfare and crossroads;

To provide means for adjusting the ratio of the change to the go signal or to the stop signal; and to provide means for rendering said cycle control means inoperative andfor substituting an auxiliary control means whereby,

mounted in a .containing box, the door or cover of the box being open, and the frame upon which the mechanism is mounted as a unit being swung open at right angles to the front plane of the box, the terminals of the circuits associated with the device being shown within the box;

Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically the circuits which may be controlled by the device, and shows also the operating circuit over which the motor of the device is energized. In the upper right hand portion of the figure are shown the contacts, through the medium of a which the signal lights are controlled;

Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the cam shaft and controlling cams for operating the contact springs. It also shows the regulating device for changing the ratio of the go and stop time intervals, which elements are shown in Fig. 1 near the lower forward corner of the frame which extends at right angles to the box;

.Fig. 4 is a front view of the device of Flg. 3 viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 shows a number of cam elements shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 shows how the cam elements operate to control the upper three sets of contacts shown in Fig. 2 through the medium of intermediate levers;

Fig. 7 is a view of the device assembled as in Fig. 1. The view is partly in section and in elevation, the direction of view being indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. This figure shows how all of the sets of contact springs are controlled by all of the cams through the medium of intermediate levers. This figure also shows the gearing connecting the motor with the cam shaft of Fig. 3;

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 show the tions of the cams with the corresponding positions of the contact springs during different portions of a single cycle of operation;

Fig. 11 is a detail showing the operative engagement between the cam control levers and the contact springs of Figs. 2 and 7.

Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view, partly diagrammatic, illustrating the operation of the cams and actuating levers for the circuit controllers. In the figure the several cams are shown separated to better illustrate the operation.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that the device is provided with a suitable motor 2 for operating the cams. The motor here shown is an alternating current motor provided with stator coils 3 and 4, and with an armature 5. The poles of the coils 3 and 4 are in proximity of the disk, or armature 5. The disk is mounted to rotate between the poles of the coils 3 and 4. Each pole is provided with a shading element. One of these shading elements is shown, namely, the shading element 6 of the coil 4. This shading element is mounted so that it may be rotated aboutthe axis of the coil 4. The element upon which this shading coil is mounted extends through the coil 4 and projects beyond the frame 7, terminating there in knob 8, Fig. 7 This knob s provided with a pointer 9 and a scale 10. By adj usting'the position of the shading element the speed of the motor may be regulated and in this manner the length of the cycle of operation of the device may be increased or decreased without affecting the ratio of the stop and go intervals in the cycle. The disk 5 (see Fig. 7) is mounted on a shaft 11 upon which shaft there is provided a pinion 11a which operates to drive the gears 12, 13 and 14, the gear 14 being shown just to the right of the frame element 7 in Fig. 3. The gear 14 is secured to a hollow shaft 15, whichlatter is mounted to rotate uponthe cam shaft 16. Secured to theshaft 16 are the cams 17 and 18, as well as the knob 19 in front of the frame 7. Se-

cured to the hollow shaft 15 are cams 20, 21 and 22. Also on the outside of frame 7 there is secured to the shaft 15 a disk 23 which is different posi-.

in frictional engagement with an arm 24 that .is permanently secured to the shaft 16. The

disk 23 is provided with a series of small holes 25 circumferentially arranged about the axis of the disk. The arm 24 is provided with a ball 26, which is seated in a hole. near the end of the arm 24, which hole is, the same radial distance from the axis of the disk 23 as are the openings 25. A spring 27 secured to the front face of the arm 24 servesto maintain the ball 26 underpressure. With this arrangement, by rotating the knob 19, the ball 26 may be moved from one hole ,25 to another,'with the result that the shaft 16 may be rotated with respect to the shaft 15. The

object of this arrangement is to enable the 6 with the disk 23.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the cams 17 and 18 are secured together by means of a clamping element such as the screw 28. These cams 17 and 18 are shown separately in Fig. 5. The cam 18 is provided with a slot 29, through which the screw 28 extends.

The slot enables the cams '17 and 18 to be adjusted with respect to each other in order to change the ratio of the trafiic change signal, which latter is under the control of the cam 18 with respect to the traflic go or stop signal under the control of the cam 17. For'the purposes of this description it will be assumed that the cam 17 controls the go signal.

It will be seen also by referring to Fig. 3 that the cams 22 and 21 are similarly connected by means of the screw 30, the cam 22 being provided with a slot 31.'in order that the cam22 may be adjusted with respect to the cam 21, whereby the ratio of the change signal, (which is also under the control of the cam 22) with respect to the stop signal, which it is assumed is under the control of the cam 21 may be varied. It will be seen, therefore, that the springs 32, 33 and 34 are under the control of the cams 18, 17, 22 and 21 through the medium of the lever 35, as indicated in Figs. 6 to 11. Associated with the lever 35 is the lever 36, both of which are mounted on the same shaft 37, which shaft is secured to the frame 7. By referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the lever 36 is under tension of coiled spring 38, while the lever 35 is under tension of coiled spring 39. The tension of the spring 38 is such that it tends to rotate the lever 36 clockwise, Fig. 1, while the tension ofthe spring 39 is such that it tends to rotate the lever 35 counter-clockwise. The cams 18, 17, 22 and 21 are arranged to opon the device in any suitable manner, as for example, on a block of insulating material 45 shown in Figs. 1, 6, 7 and 10. The device is further provided with aset of binding posts 46 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As indicated in ig. 1, the internal connections of the device terminate in these binding posts. The

binding posts, as will be seen, are located on the inside of the box, but opposite each binding post there is an opening in the side of the box, not shown. through which the outside connections with the binding posts may be made.

As indicated in .Fig. 2, the outside connections extend to a source of operating current indicated by the lines 47 and 47a and .also to the electric lamps 48, 49 and 50, which lamps may be considered as the stop, go, and changesignals respectively. The outside connections also extend to a double throw switch comprising the arms 51 and 52 and comprising also the contacts 53, 54 and 55.

\Vith a device of the character described, by closing the spring 33, Fig. 2, the go lamp 49 is lighted. After an interval thespring 33 is opened and the spring 34 is a short interval, thus lighting the lamp 50 to indicate a change. Shortlv thereafter this circuit is broken and the spring 32 is closed, lighting the stop lamp 48. After an interval the circuit is broken at the spring 32 and closed again at the spring 34, thereby retiring the stop signal and restoring the change signal. After a short interval the circuit is broken again at the spring 34 and closed once more at the spring 33 with the result that the go signal appears again. From this-point on the'operation of the signals is repeated. This is the operation of the signa s when the switch arms 51 and 52 are in engagement with the contact points 54 and '55. When the switch is in the reverse position the signals 48 and'49 are rendered inoperative and the arm 51 engages the contact 53 with the result that the continuous opera- 'tion of the spring 40 causes a continuous flashing of the lamp 50. This flashing signal may be put in use, for example, at night after the traflic becomes very light.

Referring to Figs. 11 and '12, it will be seen that springs '32, 33 and 34 are under the direct control oflever 35, the lever being provided at one end with an insulating stem 56 which projects under the springs and is adapted to move along the under side of the springs into line with bent-up recesses in the springs. The recesses in the several springs are out of alignment with each other. When closed for rod 56 moves under a recess it permits the corresponding spring to move down into engagement with its contact.

In Fig. 12 stem 56 is in alignment with the recess in spring 33, the spring being in engagement with its contact 42. As it moves forward from-this position, it comes successively into alignment with the rear recess in spring 34, the recess in spring 32, and the forward recess in spring 34, thus effecting successively the movement of spring 34 into engagement with contact 43, the movement of spring 32 into engagement with contact 41, and the movement of spring 34 into engagement with contact 43.- The lever 36 has an end which engages lever 35 and functions to move it from its forward position to its rearward position. In the operation of the mechanism, cam 20 functions to move arm 36 forward away from lever 35 while the cams 17, 18,21 and 22 function to permit lever 35 to move forward step by step to effect successive closings .of the springs with their contacts. At the end of the forward movement cam 20 releases lever 36 whereupon lever 36 forces lever 35 back to its rear position, as shown in Fig. 12. This movement is effected since spring 38 which engages lever 36 is stronger than spring 39 which engages lever 35. Thus the lever 35 moves from its rear position forward step by step to its forward position and is then returned to its rear position, these movements constituting the cycle of operasurface controls the green or go signal. As

will be seen from Fig. 12, the surfaces 1 and g overlap each other to a greater or less extent depending upon the circumferential adjustment of the two cams relatively to each other. Or, otherwise considered, the cam surface 9 forms a continuation of the cam surface 9 so that the total cam surface may be extended by moving the cam surface 9 relatively to cam surface 9 in a clockwise directi on as viewed from the right-hand end of the shaft 16 in Fig. 12.

The cam surface a of the cam 18 controls the amber or caution signal following the green or go signal, and the length of this signal depends upon the amount which the cam surfacefa projects beyond the step or edge 63 of cam 17 This may be given the desired length by adjusting cam 18 circumferentially relatively to cam 17. The cam surface 1 of cam 21' and the cam surface 7" of cam 22 are of the same radius and control the red or stop signal. The cam surface 1* overlaps the cam surface 1* and may be considered as forming a continuation of the cam surface 1'. By adjusting cam 22 relatively to cam 21 the cam surface 1* may be made to extend beyond the cam surface 1' by an amount to give the total desired length of cam surface for controlling the stop or red signal.

The cam surface'a' of the cam 22 controls the amber signal following the red or stop signal, and this may be adjusted by varying its position relatively to the step or edge 61 of the cam 20, the relative, circumferential position of the step 61 of cam relatively to the surface at determining the time at which the amber signal controlled by the surface a is terminated and the green or go signal initiated.

In the position of the parts shown in Figs.

8 and 12, arm is riding on the cam surface 9 plus 9 and spring contact 33 is in engagement with cont-act 42, thus lighting the go or green signal. The direction of rotation is that indicated by the arrow in each figure.

' As the cams move in the direction indicated by the arrows, the green signal continues until the surface 63 of cam 17 reaches arm 35. When this occurs, arm 35 drops down into engagement with cam surface a of cam 18, moving arm 35 to brin stem 56 into line with the rear recess in spring 34 and out of the recessin spring 33, thus lifting contact 33 from engagement with its contact 42110 retire the green signaland permitting spring 34 t0 move into engagement with contact 43,

'thus closing the circuit on the amber signal.

This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 9.

The amber signal continues until the end of cam surface a is reached, when the arm 35 drops off cam surface a on to the cam surface 1' plus 1", as shown in Fig. ,10. This moves stem 56 forward as viewed in Fig. 12 out of the recess in spring 34 and into the recess in spring 32, thus moving spring 34 from engagement with its contact 43'and permitting spring 32 to drop into engagement with its contact 41. This retires the amber signal and closes the circuit through the red signal. The red signal persists until the end of cam surface 1' plus 1* is reached, which isat the step or edge 59 on cam 22. When this point is reached, arm 35 drops into engagement with cam surface a, as shown in Fig. 6, mov mg stem 56 another step forward as viewed in Fig. 12 was to bring it, into engagement with the forward recess in spring 34 and out of engagement with the recess in spring 32, thus moving spring 32 from engagement with its contact 41 and permitting. spring 34 to engage its contact 43. This opens the circuit on the red signal and again closesthe circuit on the amber signal. The amber signal persists until step or edge 61 of cam 20 reaches.

1 arm 36, whereupon arm 36 moves inward from the edge 61 and forces arm 35 back to its initial position as shown in Figs. 12 and 8. This movement is effected due to the fact.

that spring 38 is stronger than spring 39. Thecycle is then repeated. I

From a consideration of the foregoing op eration, it will be seen that cams 17 18, 21 and 22 cooperate to provide cam surfaces for four different radii and that the end of lever arm 35. which engages these cam surfaces drops successively from one cam surface to the next to effect the successive forward movements of the upper end of arm 35. Arm 36'is a restoring means for .arm 35 for restoring it to its initial position and iscontrolled by, the

thus fixes the length of the amber signal fol-- lowing the green or go signal, and thefixing together of the cams 20,21 and 22 in a certain relation'fixes the length of the amber signal following the red or sto signal. hese are internal adjustments an usually are made at the factory. I By adjusting cams 17 and 18 as a unit relatively to cams 20, 21 and 22, this adjustment being effected by turning knob 19 and shaft 16, the lengths of the stop and go signals relatively to each other may be arljusted. This will be clear from Fig. 12 where it will be seen that if cams 17 and 18 are turned as a unit in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from the left-hand end of shaft 16, the go surface 9 plus 9' will become shorter'whlle the 'stop surface 1' plus '1" will be lengthened due to a decrease in the amount which surface 9' overlaps surface 1'. This adjustment does not affect the lengths of the amber surfaces a and a which remain fixed.

With this arrangement the relative lengths.

of the stop and 'go signals can be adjusted by turning t e knob 19. The total time cycle can be adjusted by turning the knob 8. Both these adjustments can be made by a trafiic ofii-' cer at any time to take care of changing traffic conditions.

When the traflic is very light the stop, go and change signal cycle may be dispensed with and one ofthe lamps may be caused to flash continuously. This is done by throwing the lever 51 to the right, Fig. 2, in enga ement with the contact 53, as already ex ained.

When this switch is in this positiomt e lamp 50 is continuously operate by the continuous o eration of the spring 40. This spring is un er the control of the cam 64, also located on the shaft, 16. The operation of the iprin is directly produced by the lever 65,

rotates which in turn causes the arm- 65 to reciprocate about the shaft 66 with the re- As the shaft 16 rotates the cam 64 sult that the pin 67 on the end of the lever 65 causes the spring 40 to engage and disengage the contact 69 once as each tooth of the cam 64 passes by the pin 7 Q on the lower end of the lever 65.

In order to insure smooth running and proper lubrication an oil pan 71 is provided immediately below the cams on the cam shaft 16 and the gears 12 and 13, see Figs. 1 and 7. The oil pan may be secured to the frame 7 in any suitable manner, as for example, by means of screws 72, only one of which is shown. Between the pan 71 and the frame 7 a gasket may be provided in order to insure against a leakage of the oil from the pan 71.

It will thus be seen that I provide a trafllc signal controller for operating a number of signals, as for example, a stop'signal, a go signal a change signal and a fiashin signal. Furthermore the controller is provided with means for adjusting the length of the cycles,

the ratio of the signals with respect to each other. The controller is provided with two index devices which will enable a traffic officer at a moments notice to change either the length of the cycle or the ratio of the signals in a cycle without having to open up the de vice or to have anything to do with the cams or any part of the internal mechanism except through the medium of the index elements. Furthermore, by the provision of the auxiliary switch shown in the lower part of Fig. 2 the control may he changed from a cycle control to regular persistent flashing operation.

It will be seen by referring to Fig. 2 that by applying a source of potential to the main conductor 47 and in operation, and with the switch 51, 52 thrown to the left the springs 32, 33 and 34 are regularly operated in cycles so that the signals 48, 49 and 50 are correspondingly operated. On the other hand, by throwing the switch into the reverse position the signals 48 and 49 are thrown out of circuit while the signal 50 continues to operate regularly as a flashing signal.

It Wlll be seen that e springs 32, 33 and 34 arewprovided with epressions to work in cooperation with the arm 56 on the lever 35, the arrangement being such that the contacts are brought into operation in the cycle described in the foregoing by advancing the lever 35, under the control of the cams shown in Fig. 5 from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 9 into the position shown in Fig. 10 and to'the position shown in Fig. 6 from which last position it is carried back to the original position Fig. 8 b the lever 36 and the signal repeated.

Ft will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction in connection with which I have elected to illustrate my invention inasmuch as variations may be readily made without departing from 4711 the motor disk 5 is setgroups which the spirit of the invention of the claims herein.

WVhat I claim as new and desire to secure orv from the scope by Letters Patent of the United States is z- 1. In a circuit controller, a plurality of switches, an arm movable from an initial position to successive positions for successive.

ly closing said switches, a cam structure having a plurality of surfaces of different radii for effecting successlve movements of sald arm, means for continuously rotatin'gsaid cam structure, a second arm which engages the first named arm, and cam means for efiecting movement of said second arm to restore the first named arm to its initial position.

2. In a circuit controller, a plurality of switches, an arm movable from an initial position to successive positions for successively" closing said switches, a cam structure having a plurality of surfaces of different rad11 for efi'ectlng successive movements of said arm,

means whereby the effective lengths of said cam surfaces may be adjusted, means for continuously rotating said cam structure, a second arm which engages the first named arm,

and cam means for effecting-movement of said the first named arm a plurality of arm engages for effecting successive movements of said arm,

means for adjusting the effective lengths of said cam surfaces, means for continuously rotating said cam structure,

and means including a cam surface which turns with said first named cam surfaces for restoring said pivoted arm to its initial posltion.

4. In a circuit controller, a plurality of switches, an arm movable from an initial position to successive positions for successively closing said switches, a plurality of cam groups which provide a plurality of surfaces of different radii for effecting successive movements of said arm, means for adjusting the cams of each group relatively to each other and the groups of cams relatively to each other for varying the effective lengths of said cam surfaces, means for rotating said cam groups as a unit, and means for periodically restoring said arm to its initial position.

5. In a circuit controller, a plurality of switches, an arm movable from an initial position to successive positions for successively closing said switches, a plurality of cam provide a plurality of surfaces of different radii for effecting successive movements of said arm, separate shafts on which said cam groups are mounted, a wall through which said shafts project, said cam groups being located on one side of said wall,

means on the other side of said wall for turning said shafts relatively to each other for adjustin said cam groups, means connectin said sha s so that they turn together, an means which turns with said shafts for effecting the restoring of said arm to its initial position.

' 6. In a circuit controller, a continuously rotating shaft, a plurality of groups of cams carried by-the shaft and rotatable therewith, said cams providin a pluralit of successive camsurfaces of different ra ii, means for adjusting said cam groups relatively to each other for varyin the lengths of said cam surfaces, a plura ity of circuit closers each comprising a spring strip, an arm which at one end engages said cam surfaces and at the 1 other end engages said spring strips for successively moving the spring strips to actuate the circuit closers, and spring actuated means which is released by one of said cam groups for restoring said arm to an initial position after it has successively actuated the circuit closers.

' .7. In a circuit controller, a plurality of switches, an arm movable from an initial posi- (31011 to successive positions for successively 80 closing said switches, a cam structure having a lurallty of surfaces of different radii for e ecting successive movements of said arm, means for continuously rotating said cam structure, and s ring means actuated by said a cam structure 0r restoring said arm to its initial position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set .my hand this 22nd day of July, 1926.

CHESTER I. HALL. 

